Please Eat

I have a 2 yr. old who is very picky when it comes to eating vegetables and meat. He will eat the baby food carrots, sweet potatoes, etc. but won't eat the cooked and diced varieties. Just a few days ago, we let him start dipping his meat and veggies in ranch dressing. He loves it and actually started to eat things he refused to eat before!!! I also always try to add cheese whenever possible...on scrambled eggs, veggies, etc. I think the main thing is just keep trying. They may only eat a few favorites now, but they will eventually start to eat more. Don't get too frustrated!!! Good luck.

I don't know how to get him to eat more, other than maybe letting him help pick out produce at the store, wash and prepare it. Oh, and I'd avoid giving him any diet drinks, the artificial sweeteners might not be good for a child. It's probably better to give him small amounts of diluted (half water) 100% juice, only once a day or so. And maybe he's drinking too much juice or milk between meals?
Good luck!

Hi B.. I also have a 3-year-old son who is picky...and a 5 year old son who is picky. One thing that has worked for me is if one kid likes something and the other one doesn't I have the one who DOES like it eat the food in front of the son who DOESN'T like the food and tell him how good it tastes. This has been working well lately. Another thing I do is if I have company over or am at my family's house (I'm a divorced parent and sister of 6 bros and sis's) then we have one of the aunts or uncles, Grandma or Crapaw (Grandpa) eat it first. This has helped SO much in just getting them to try things. As soon as they try the foods they find out they like them. Then I told them that I wouldn't give them anything that tastes bad. They are now starting to eat a little bit better but we still have our days.

Another thing I do, and some people may not think this is good manners, but I let them eat things like spaghetti as loud and as obnoxious as they want to. We like to see who can slurp up the noodles. They have a blast doing this and ALWAYS eat all of their spaghetti (which they don't like to eat because it has sauce).

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Don't worry...if he at least eats the things you mentioned, you're lucky! They will get past that stage. My 3 year old daughter only eats a few select things, also...but lately I can barely get her to even eat THAT stuff. Sounds like you are doing the best you can, so hang in there! One suggestion I have (and something I tried that worked great) was making my own popsicles with fruit juice. My daughter loved making them and would eat them up. Good luck!

Let me start by saying good for you in wanting to get your child to eat more healthy foods! Sometimes this is not an easy task. However think about the types of foods your child craves. Although it is common for children to desire these types of foods (carbs), it can also be indicative of a possible yeast problem. He first needs a good probiotic (acidophilus such as what is added to yogurt - good bacteria to fight off the bad stuff in the gut). My ped regularly recommends a good probiotic to all patients regardless if they have a blatently obvious yeast issue such as food cravings, rashes or frequent infections because it promotes a healthy gut.

As for food, there are good ways you can sneak good food in while you retrain how he handles food. First you need to encourage him to try small bites himself. One thing I won't let my kids do is say they don't like it before they taste it. They must at least give it a fair try before rejecting it. That being said you can add veggies and fruits to breads (carrot, apple, raisin bread), you can make meatballs with some steamed and pureed garlic, broccoli, carrots and onions. THere are ways to get him to eat healthy foods. When he aquires a taste for those foods, then you can introduce the plain veggie (not hidden in something) and he will find the flavor familiar and he will enjoy it more. You can even add bits of broccoli to his mac and cheese. Also I would be careful of V8 -especially diet. Kids shouldn't have artificial sweeteners because they are neurotoxins (namely aspartame), and they can actually cause more carb cravings and promote diabetes just to name a few problems associated with them. Also unless you have the low sodium version, I believe V8 at least use to be known for its extremely high sodium content. It has been years since I have actually looked at a bottle to confirm, but I recall this being fact years ago.

Sometimes just being creative with food can help too. For example taking celery, filling it with peanut butter and topping with raisins. My kids have pretended that the raisins were bugs they could eat. My boys really loved that concept. My boys are 5 and 3. My 21 month old daughter cannot eat celery yet. She'll chew on it, but not really eat it well. Your little guy may not be able to eat the celery either, but if he really likes peanut butter it may encourage him to try anyhow. My kids do like apples and peanut butter together too. There are also drinks that can be made such as a green drink (we use one by Enzymatic therapy http://www.vitacost.com/EnzymaticTherapyEarthsPromiseGree.... It has tons of good greens. Adults are suppose to mix 4 teaspoons with 12 oz fluid so I mix 1 teaspoon per child since they don't need as much as an adult. It gives all they need for the day, aids digestion (which is real important) as well as boosts immunity. The one we buy has a peppermint flavor so added to chocolate milk has a chocolate mint flavor. It doesn't taste like a girl scout cookie, but it doesn't taste bad, and my kids loved the taste from the beginning. I have had many people ask to try it at my home and they cannot believe how good it actually tastes. It has some wheat grass, barley grass and oat grass so you will notice a slight grassy smell to it. You can't imagine it tastes good with the smell, but it does. My kids beg for it daily. My daughter comes running yelling "MILK" when she sees me blending it. There are tons of other green drinks on the market as well.

Good luck and I hope you are successful at getting your guy to start eating his veggies and fruits. Don't give up and don't get frustrated. Just be encouraging and it will pay off eventually.

B. :)

B.,

Have you looked into the kids ensure drinks that they have. If you can't get him to eat healthy at least you could make sure he has all the nutrients that he needs to grow strong. Has the family doc said anything about his progress? If he is where he is supposed to be and healthy maybe your vitamins are doing the trick. Peanut butter is full of protien and oat meal is healthy. You might try cooking the veggies in a different way. Sauteed etc. You might also something simple like jello with fruit in it. Don't stress I had one that went through the same thing and he is healthy as a horse!

Kat

Don't worry he will eventually eat things other than PB&J and Mac and Cheese. My 2 1/2 year old was the same way and I just kept introducing things to her along with the other foods she liked and eventually she picked up and started eating other foods. Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!

My son is also a picky eater, however only 20 months old. My doctor did suggest to me that i give him a plate with everthing on it (stuff he likes, and stuff he does not) but wait for about ten minutes (adjust for how fast or slow your son eats) before giving him a drink. My son will fill up on liquids and then eat very little, even of the things he does like. Also you said you like to cook, they suggest letting your children help you because they want to help and will enjoy eating something they helped make. So if you were to let your son put the peanut butter on the celery, or something like that. I've tried it and yes it can be a mess, but those clean up and it's great time together and if all goes well your son is eating a "new" food. Good luck.

I've got a super-picky eater myself. Your kid's eat list is longer than my 4-yr-old's, so don't worry. I do give him a "milkshake" every morning. I buy the generic brand of Ensure, which is basically the same as Pediasure, but about half the price. That way I know he's getting some good stuff each day.
I also make up silly names for foods, and that will sometimes help. (Like calling the tri-colored spiral pasta "Clown Noodles" and telling him they will make his tummy giggle. He ate the whole bowlful!)
I see you wrote that he drinks lots of milk and juice. You might try cutting back on those, so he isn't filling up on them before it's time to eat.
My boys both looove fruit, so that has never been a problem, but veggies and meat are other stories. Your son won't let himself starve, tho, so just keep offering different foods at each meal, let him see how much you enjoy it, and try to get him to take one bite of a new food. Then the next time you offer it, ask for two bites, and hopefully he'll find some new favorites. Good luck!

J.

Give him some of what he likes, but introduce new foods as well. Eventually he will eat a variety of things. He won't starve himself, and it will help prevent him from becoming a picky eater later.

Sounds like there is alot of great ideas here already. Just relax, you're giving vitamins and juices so they aren't going to have a problem with a nutritional lack. All 3 of my kids went through this. Just be consistent in whatever things you try. Sometimes I'll tell them it's their choice, but... (they always hate hearing but) ...no dessert or if it's suppertime they don't get anything else until breakfast. It's amazing how fast they'll eat at least 3 bites of anything just to get what they really want to eat.

Hi Brook,

I have a 9 yr old son (Brandon) who is the same way. All he wants is mac & cheese, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, or speghetti. He'll even eat brocolli but no other veggies. He'll sometimes go 2 days without eating anything at all. On those days I at least try to give him milk shakes so he's getting something in his stomache. Brandon is very slowly trying new things from time to time. He even tried a piece of steak the other night & realized he liked it. Kids are very picky eaters but as long as he's eating, he's fine. As they get older they start to try other foods & realize what they've missed this whole time. It's good the your son is eating the oatmeal & especially the peanut butter for protein. Have you ever tried watermelon or cantalope. I hope this helps. Good Luck.

N.

As the other ladies have mentioned this is very common at this age. My daughter is 3 and so picky. I will make something one day and she loves it and the next time I make it she won't touch it. One thing I think is very important is that you continue to eat a variety of fruits and veggies in front of your child. One of mine and my husband's favorite veggies is asparagus. We eat it a lot and my daughter sees that. I always put some on her plate but she usually does not touch it. Lately, she has started eating some of it. Also, she will eat cut up celery and carrots. She sometimes dips them in a low-fat ranch dressing. Try different fruits such as blueberries, kiwi, grapes, apples, etc... Maybe offer some yogurt for him to dip them in. Also, morningstar and Boca offer a line of meat-free chick'n nuggets, veggie burger, etc... They are healthier than the meat options and most kids love them. Good luck!

We have always had a "passover" game in our home, introduced early in life to each of my five children, the oldest just graduated college. I painted a poker chip a hundred years ago yellow with a black smiley face on it. You can use the poker chip twice a week to "pass" on one food that was made that you don't like. Otherwise, you eat it, no matter how long you have to sit there. I can recall one time with each child that they sat for probably two hours, trying to make a stand, but inevitably, ate what was put in front of them and after that, no problems. Stop giving him the reigns and cook what is good for him (the foods listed are not so much) and start using some discipline. It won't take long, just a strong will on your part for a few days. Once he realizes he is no longer the boss and that eating it is not optional, he'll eat.

You could alway do what my mom did: She would eat it in front of me and tell me that it was big kid food. She also just stoped serving the foods I would eat. I would whine, but I didn't starve. You might want to look for allergies to any of the foods. My sister is allergic to milk and can't even have bread that has milk in it. You never know.

B.:

First, why is he drinking "diet" V8? If he is not taking in very many calories, I don't know if diet is a good idea. Next,take him to the store and let him pick out a few things on his own (that are healthy). You can also add peas to the Mac and cheese, fruit to the cereal he likes...you get the point. Last, he is eating, and as long as he is gaining weight, I would not worry to much.

A.

Have you ever tried making a fruit smoothie or yogurt and for veggies try putting cheese on them.

juice can curve your appetite and make your son not want to eat as much.
a similar thing happened with me. my 2 yr old son was getting to the point where i would make him something and he wouldn't eat it even though i know that he liked it. he's going through the "string cheese and fruit snack diet routine", have you heard of that one?!? ha! any way, when it came to meal time at first, it sucked, but i had to give him his food in "courses". in other words what i think that he's least likely to eat that's what he got first. in our case cheese and fruit came last because i can always count on him to eat that stuff. i hate wasting food. i give him the more important stuff (healthy)first and if he doesn't want what i give him and refuses to eat then "meal-time" is over and he just gave up the chance to eat his favorites. i figured he's old enough to know consequences on other things why not meal time. i call the shots when it comes to him. and i'm not saying you don't call the shots with yours, but it kind of sounds like he's ruling the menu. and maybe let him to a certain extent. he sounds like he's old enough to understand that if you were to ask him what he wants and he told you then you turn around and tell him what he needs to eat in order to get that. if you give him a few slices of cucumber and ranch or grapes and he refuses to eat them then dinner time is over. if he asks later to eat, offer him the exact same thing he refused earlier or you could tell him you'll let him pick whether he wants cucumber or baby carrots if he still refuses to eat those then tell him until he eat them he won't get anything else. eventually he'll get it. they are not going to go hungry, they will eat. this happened with my son only once or twice before he learned what he had to do in order to get what he wanted. i thought he was going to go all day with out eating and i felt really bad, but right before bed he asked for the very thing he had refused to eat all day.
good luck! hope something works for you soon!
S.

B.,

My step Daughter is the same way. I grew up telling my parents that I would never do what they made me do and make my children eat what they do not like. I thought it was cruel.

But in my house, you have to at least try the food even if it is only one bite, if you like it then you eat it, if you don't, then so be it.

In your case though, your child is younger. Let the child know that you are the adult in the house and give them the food you want them to eat. If the child does not like it, then the child can sit there until it is eaten or go hungry. Eventually your child will give in and eat.

I know it sounds hard to do that, but trust me, if you don't start doing it now, your child will start to walk all over you.

Hi B.,

My 19-month-old daughter is also a finicky eater. What works for me is making mealtimes fun. For example, she won't eat spaghetti with sauce on it, but if I put the noodles separate and let her dip the bread in the sauce, she will eat it. She likes to dip her food in sauces. She also loves to feed herself although she can make quite a mess. I just allow it and clean up afterwards. Also, if I let her help make a meal for herself, she is more willing to taste it. Hope this helps.

You have a picky eater. My oldest is like that, been that way since she was one. The only suggestion I can make to you is to continue doing what your doing. There are lots of picky eaters in the world and I don't know why they don't eat, they just don't eat. When my daughter was about three I got fed up and if she refused to eat what I fixed then she just wouldn't eat. But she is so stubborn she went a whole day(24 hrs) with out eating. Yeah she showed me, instead of me showing her. So she continued to eat nothing but chicken, mac n cheese, corn, rice, and cereal. Eventually we got her to try other meats. By the time she was five she ate majority of meats and green beans. I'll say around six she ate turkey and fried duck strips(from Red Beans Bayou Grill). She did eat shrimp and enjoyed it until some one told her it was shrimp, then all of a sudden she doesn't like it anymore. But one thing I have noticed she does not like no red sauces(ketchup, BBQ. When we order pizza we get a personal pan with only cheese(no sauce) or make half a pizza that way. When we make spaghetti, she eats noodles and parmesian cheese. When we grill, cook hers first so that there is not a drop of sauce on it. I did trick her the other night. She usually doesn't eat meatloaf, so I didn't give her any because I didn't want to argue with her, she was upset because she didn't get any. So I cut her some meatloaf and cut the top off because of the ketchup and she said how it was good. It was the best meatloaf she has had. Well the trick was I had put BBQ sauce in the mix(I was trying out new things). I haven't told her, but I will later. She just started trying new foods now. I think its because of school. Seeing all this stuff other kids are eating, it may acutally be good. She said that she likes string cheese. She is nine years old in the 3rd grade.
I guess the only thing you can do is keep trying and be patient, eventually they will grow out of it, but for the time being you just have to put up with it.
I was given another suggest by the WIC workers, have your child cook with you so that they will see everything that goes in it. Also they will want to eat their own creation. This has not worked for me, but it might you.
Good luck. Oh and another thing, he is eating healthy so that is the good thing. Its not like he is eating just sweets and drinking high sugar pops and drinks that do nothing for you.

Hey girl!!
Have you tried apples with some kind of dip or any fruits or veggies with a dip?
How about outting vegetables in with the mac n cheese? If you can do it whole, if he is that picky that he will notice, blend them up then pour them in with the sauce he will not even notice.
Waffles- How about ones with fruit in them? and the same with oatmeal, or with the oatmeal you can blend up fruits and put them in also you could do that with the waffles too if you are making them.
PB & J-there are fruits in the jelly or jam that you use to make those with.

Anyway there are some suggestions!! Hope they work for ya!